Rab Clothing, Equipment and Sleeping Bags

Rab are a British brand that is focused on using functional designs and high quality fabrics to produce premium gear for mountaineering and polar travel. As a result, the Rab name has become a common sight in the most extreme places on Earth over more than three decades, with a real history in manufacturing down products.

Rab Carrington originally started making sleeping bags in Patagonia over 30 years ago, the reason being that Customs had held all his gear! As a result, Rab have unparalleled expertise when it comes to sleeping bags and down vests / jackets. Rather a good climber, Rab was born from this original passion for the mountains and it shines through in all their products.  Traditionally based in Sheffield, (although the manufacturing process starts in China) Rab still stuff their down products here in Blighty. Talk to any mountaineer, and they still have images of little old granny’s stuffing sleeping bags with just a little extra down - something Rab do not deny!

For the discerning mountaineer, Rab products are unusual, well regarded and guaranteed to perform whether you are Hiking, Climbing or Cycling. From the use of eVent fabrics in their jackets to the high quality down they uniquely source themselves, Rab products stand as a testament to British mountaineering.

eVent Rab and eVent have a long history together and rightly so, both world leaders in their respective categories. The combination of eVent fabrics and Rab products never fail and all of the gear born from the marriage of Rab and eVent is simply fantastic. eVent works by using direct venting technology, this is a membrane that allows sweat to be directly vented away from the skin to the surface of a jacket or pant with no mid layer to be passed through so making the process fast and efficient. Other bonuses of eVent fabrics include total wind protection and total weather protection.

Primaloft There are two different types of insulation that we deal with and it's a battle between nature and man - down vs synthetic. Rab use down and synthetic insulation and sometimes a combination of the two. Rab choose to use Primaloft as their synthetic insulation and that's because Primaloft insulation is thermally efficient, has superior water resistance, quick to dry, breathable and is wind resistant.

Pertex Pertex is a brand it's self and they develop new, lighter, stronger fabrics for Rab to use on their gear. Rab mostly use Pertex on their down jackets and down sleeping bags because of a range of characteristics which all come into play with the different products. Pertex not only come with one fabric but they come with 6, each Pertex fabric has it's benefit and Rab match the fabric to the best suited product. Below are a list of the different variants of Pertex and their features.

Pertex Quantum GL This was developed especially for Rab and is 20% lighter than the standard Pertex Quantum. It's main properties mean that apparel and equipment can be built much lighter and still have the same levels of insulation, balance of weight and strength. Quantum GL is also ultra soft which allows down and synthetic insulation to loft to it's maximum capacity.

Pertex Quantum Quantum is feather weight, downproof, windproof and breathable. It has the best strength to weight ratio of all the Pertex fabrics and it's soft as silk wit the smallest packing volume. Rab use this fabric for their midweight down jackets and vests.

Pertex Microlight This fabric is lightweight, downproof, windproof and breathable. Microlight is most commonly used by Rab in their down sleeping bags and the inner lining of down jackets because it's packable, super soft and highly durable for it's weight.

Pertex Equilibrium This is a denier gradient, wind resistant and highly breathable fabric with rapid moisture dispersal. It's denier gradient structure moves moisture from the skin preventing dampness, Equilibrium is also weatherproof, tough and durable which is why Rab use it in construction off their wind tops and vapour rise jackets.

Pertex Endurance This is a coated water resistant, downproof, windproof and breathable fabric with a hydrostatic head of 1000mm. Rab use Pertex Endurance in many of their more technical and expedition level gear because it's 100% windproof, highly water resistant and is very breathable. These are all very important factors for high altitude clothing and sleeping bags which is why Rab trusts Pertex Endurance to get the job done.

Pertex Classic Pertex Classic is a light and soft fabric which moves moisture away from the body while offering excellent weather protection, high tear strength and great abrasion resistance. Rab use this for belaying jackets, wind suits and down sleeping bags.